Yan et al. (2025) Streamflow and stage monitoring data along the lower Pajaro River, Central Coastal California

Identification

• Journal: Open MIND
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-03
• Authors: Ethan Yan, Emmanuel Rojas, Siena Oswald, Casey Meusel, Isabel Magaña, A. T. Fisher
• DOI: 10.5061/dryad.kd51c5bmb

Research Groups

• University of California, Santa Cruz (Earth and Planetary Sciences, UCSC Hydrogeology, Center for Coastal Climate Resilience)
• Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
• The Recharge Initiative

Short Summary

This repository provides streamflow and stage monitoring data from multiple locations along the lower Pajaro River in Central Coastal California, collected by various agencies from Water Year 2021 to Water Year 2024, to support hydrological research and water management.

Objective

• To compile and make publicly available a comprehensive dataset of streamflow and stage records for the lower Pajaro River, Central Coastal California, to facilitate hydrological studies and water resource management.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Lower Pajaro River, Central Coastal California. Three monitoring locations are detailed:
  • Murphy Crossing (MC): 617889 m E, 4085233 m N (UTM Zone 10S)
  • Kelly Thompson (KT): 615542 m E, 4086111 m N (UTM Zone 10S)
  • Fishhead (FH): 613105 m E, 4085699 m N (UTM Zone 10S) These sites are located at approximately 8.03 km, 4.74 km, and 1.43 km upstream of the confluence of the main stem of the Pajaro River and Salsipuedes Creek, respectively.
• Temporal Scale: Data spans from Water Year 2021 (starting 1 October 2020) to Water Year 2024 (ending 30 September 2024).
  • MC (km8.03): Water Years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
  • KT (km4.74): Water Year 2024.
  • FH (km1.43): Water Year 2024.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Rating curves are empirically derived relationships between observed stage measurements and calculated discharge. These curves may be adjusted or split for different periods due to changes in channel geometry.
• Data sources:
  • Observation data: Streamflow and stage measurements collected by UCSC Hydrogeology, Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
  • Data types:
    • Observed stage measurements (originally in feet, converted to meters; 1 ft = 0.3048 m).
    • Observed discharge measurements (originally in cubic feet per second, converted to cubic meters per second; 1 cfs = 0.0283168 m³/s).
    • Calculated instantaneous stage (originally in feet, converted to meters).
    • Calculated instantaneous discharge (originally in cubic feet per second, converted to cubic meters per second).
    • Mean daily stage (originally in feet, converted to meters) and its standard deviation.
    • Mean daily discharge (originally in cubic feet per second, converted to cubic meters per second) and its standard deviation.
    • Rating curve equations and associated stream gauging data.
  • Temporal resolution: Interval (15 or 20 minutes) and mean daily records.

Main Results

• The repository provides a comprehensive dataset comprising streamflow and stage records for the lower Pajaro River.
• Data includes observed and calculated instantaneous stage and discharge, as well as mean daily stage and discharge, with associated standard deviations.
• All stage measurements are provided in meters (converted from original feet values), and all discharge measurements are provided in cubic meters per second (converted from original cubic feet per second values).
• Records for Murphy Crossing (MC) span from Water Year 2021 (October 2020) to Water Year 2024 (September 2024), while Kelly Thompson (KT) and Fishhead (FH) sites have data for Water Year 2024 (October 2023 - September 2024).
• Rating curves, which define the empirical relationship between stage and discharge, are also included, with considerations for channel geometry changes over time.

Contributions

• This dataset provides valuable, multi-agency collected hydrological data for a critical region in Central Coastal California, supporting research on water resources, climate resilience, and environmental management.
• It offers both high-frequency (15-20 minute interval) and daily aggregated data, along with the underlying rating curves, enabling detailed hydrological analysis.
• The long-term record at Murphy Crossing, combined with newer data from additional sites, enhances the spatial and temporal coverage for the lower Pajaro River basin.

Funding

• CA Climate Action Seed Grant (#R02CP7145), administered through the University of California, Office of the President.
• Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation (#9964).
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (NIFA award #2021-67019-33595).
• UCSC Center for Coastal Climate Resilience.
• The Recharge Initiative.

Citation

@article{Yan2025Streamflow,
  author = {Yan, Ethan and Rojas, Emmanuel and Oswald, Siena and Meusel, Casey and Magaña, Isabel and Fisher, A. T.},
  title = {Streamflow and stage monitoring data along the lower Pajaro River, Central Coastal California},
  journal = {Open MIND},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.5061/dryad.kd51c5bmb},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kd51c5bmb}
}